In 2013, petrol-soaked Andrew Pimlott appeared to be holding a lit match at the time he was Tasered by police in Plymouth. He caught fire and died, but despite investigations by the Crown Prosecution Service and IPCC the officer did not face criminal charges

In July, the police watchdog raised concerns over officers in England and Wales using Tasers at point-blank range despite no longer being trained to do so. The IPCC said the technique was "purely a means of pain compliance", while the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said point-blank firing was sometimes necessary

In November, Matthew Williams, who murdered a woman in an act of cannibalism, died after being Tasered by police in Wales. His cause of death is still unknown

Acpo said officers must pass a nationally recognised training course before they are allowed to deploy a Taser.

Commander Neil Basu, from Acpo, said: "While Taser is always an option of last resort, officers must be free to act in the best interests of public safety, whoever the person posing a threat may be."

Image caption
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission

In September it emerged that a review into the use of Tasers by the force found that officers discharged them on one out of 10 occasions when they were drawn.

The force used Tasers 33 times for every 100 officers in 2013, and a total of 619 times in nine years, according to the police watchdog.

The force said the use of a Taser was "a last resort for officers".

Solicitor Sophie Kahn, who has represented Taser victims, called for their use to be curbed while a national review is carried out.

"The Home Secretary ordered a review of Tasers in October this year due to the excessive use on vulnerable individuals," she said.

"As the spotlight is now firmly on police use of force, the Home Secretary should move to impose a temporary ban on Taser use whilst the review is ongoing."

What is a Taser?

Image copyrightAP

The Taser fires two darts with a five-second, 50,000-volt charge, which can temporarily disable its target.

Its ammunition consists of a single-use compressed air cartridge which fires the darts and has to be replaced each time the weapon is fired.

Police guidelines stipulate the device may be used where officers face "a risk of serious violence".

Tasers were introduced in England and Wales in 2003 and rolled out across both countries in 2008, and were not limited to specialist firearms officers.